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A surge in solar energy generation has been almost enough on its own to meet rapid growth in Türkiye’s peak power demand, according to an analysis by research group Ember.
The context: The country’s electricity usage during peak times is climbing fast — particularly in the middle of the day in summer months, when high temperatures prompt greater use of air conditioners, and when solar panels tend to deliver the most power. This makes low-cost solar a handy tool for offsetting growth in peak demand.
The latest: In the first eight months of 2024, Türkiye’s solar output was up more than 40% from a year before amid an ongoing boom in installations.
“Solar power covered 70% of the rise in hourly peak electricity demand over the last five years, proving its ability to meet rising demand driven by increasing cooling needs,” Ember analyst Bahadır Sercan Gümüş wrote in a report.
The technology accounted for 11.2% of all electricity generation in June — a 3.1 percentage point increase from the same month in 2023. And the clean energy source now meets nearly a fifth (18%) of the country’s peak electricity demand, up from just 2.5% in 2017.
“This upward trend is expected to continue as investments in solar energy expand and storage solutions improve, positioning solar power as a key pillar in Türkiye’s energy strategy,” Gümüş said.
Besides delivering the most power when cooling demand is at its highest, solar also provides cost stability for consumers and reduces Türkiye’s dependence on energy imports, helping to lower the country’s current account deficit. Further, when households and businesses install their own rooftop solar systems, the overall system becomes more efficient as this mitigates energy losses in power lines.
“In this context, Türkiye’s rooftop solar potential of at least 120 GW offers a significant opportunity to enhance energy security.”
However, the country could better leverage its solar potential by investing further in storage systems, Gümüş said.
